Ottawa Photographers: Take Six

"Photography is not a crime."
Photograph by padawan *(xava du) courtesy of Flickr
 (Creative Commons)

There is a big difference between knowing something intellectually and experiencing it first-hand.  For instance, after surfing the Ottawa blogosphere for a long time, I know that there are numerous photo-blogs in the National Capital Region.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the total number was well into the hundreds, or even if it topped 1,000.  However, discovering all of these blogs while searching through the Internet, (as opposed to making an educated guess on how many there are), is a bit of an overwhelming experience.  Each time I came across a new photo site I am truly struck about how amazing artists there are in Ottawa and surrounding areas.

I have already come across more than 100 photo-blogs.  At the current pace that I am discovering new sites, I am confident that I will reach 200 photo-blog by the end of the summer.  With that in mind, here are some more photo-blogs that I have not mentioned on this site.  (Note: If you want to see previous posts on local photographers simply click on the Photography link at the top of this site).

Photo-Blogs

Ashley Ladouceur is an Ottawa-based photographer who has a graphic arts degree.  "I’ve built my portfolio by working with non-profit organizations, artists, Government departments and Private firms," she writes on her bio page on her tumblr site.  "On my spare time, I brainstorm ideas and create projects that somehow impact the lives of children living in Colombia."  Her work includes urban landscapes, street fashion and portraits.  If you want to see more of her work check out her pinterest site.

I like discovering photo-blogs that focus on different Ottawa neighbourhoods.  I was therefore quite pleased when I came across Glebester.  While this tumblr site was last updated a couple of months, it does contain many beautiful photographs of the Glebe.

Local photographer Stephen Harrison was born in Ottawa in 1983 and grew up in the rural village of Dunrobin, which is located a few kilometers northwest of Canada’s capital.  A graduate of Algonquin College's photography program, he likes to explore nature by taking photos of deep forests, expansive fields, flowers and winding creeks. His work, however, also includes really intriguing artistic shots that range from ice sculptures, to a fascinating shoot involving garbage, to a fire on an OC Transpo bus.  While his photo-blog is only updated on a periodic basis, (the most recent post on the site is from April), his work is definitely worth checking out.

I do not know a lot about Broke Billionaire Media. According to their tumblr site bio, they are "A group of individuals determined to usher in a new type of groove where ever and whenever possible. Dope Music. Good People. Great Atmospheres. That’s what we’re about."  True to this description, the publish photographs of club parties, as well as running an instagram site.

Marijuana smokers, meanwhile, might get a kick out of Blunts N Kush.  For their part, Jackpine is a site for a self-described "creative studio" in Ottawa that contains an eclectic (and interesting) range of photos from our area.  Other tumblr sites that I have come across include Bixter Snoodle, Eric Gregoire, Zhengyanglu and Illuminated.

Blog Review: Shooting It

Photo by Brendan Montgomery (Copyright)

Last week I published several posts that looked at some excellent photographers from the National Capital Region.  Today I want to conclude this series by showcasing the work of Brendan Montgomery.  Note: My original aim was to publish a few more photo-related posts this week, but due to work and travel commitments I will have to postpone these stories to a future date.

Brendan Montgomery is a freelance photojournalist from Ottawa, whose work covers, among other things, political demonstrations, intimate profile shots and landscapes. His extensive work can be seen in his photo-blog, which includes links to his Flickr photographs, Facebook page, professional web site and Twitter account. This review, however, will only focus on his tumblr account called Shooting It.

"I suppose I'm a documentary photographer as my stuff consists of three flavours of documentary photography," Montgomery tells me in an email. "There's my photojournalist work covering mostly political protests along with other newsworthy events."

Photo by Brendan Montgomery (copyright)

The intriguing images of political protests is what first attracted me to Montgomery's  work. For example, the shot on the the left of a sax-holding, bandana-wearing protester laughing with police is wonderful.  One can imagine an interesting dialogue taking place that goes beyond the classic state-vs.-protest photo.

Then there are brilliant shots like the one at the top of this post with the two chess players, which was taken during the recent 4/20 pro-marijuana rally on Parliament Hill.  The shot is fantastic for so many reasons.  It captures two men playing chess (the ultimate game of intellect) during a protest for drug legalization (which is often stereotyped as being less than intelligent).  The sight of two thinking chess players questioning the war on drugs in the middle of a protest is awesome.  Like the photograph of the police and sax-holding protester, the clash of emotions forces the viewer to reevaluate classic debates in new ways.

Montgomery, however, does not limit himself to political protests.

Photo by Brendan Montgomery (copyright)

"I also do some street photography, although some purists may argue with my definition of it," he says.  "To me, street photography is a photo of anything I see while walking around when my only pretext for being there is to take photos of an undefined spontaneous event or place.  I am however pretty lax with my own rules and break them regularly."

An example of his street photography can be found just above (see original here). Like the best urban photos, this image – and others like it – make the viewer feel like they are becoming better acquainted with their own city.  It's as if these photos were converting urban background noise into a beautiful song.

Photo by Brendan Montgomery
(Copyright)

The final aspect of Montgomery's work comes from his own life, as well as landscape shots and other interesting images, such as the photo on the left (see original here).

"Lastly comes my personal photography," he explains in his email. "These are photos from my life.  They differ from my street photos as I’m not out there with the intention to take photos, I'm just living my life and have a camera with me.  These are usually a little more intimate then my street photos.  I also throw in the odd landscape and that pretty much sums up the bulk of my work."

Ottawa Photographers: Take Five

Photo by Frank Kehren courtesy of Flickr
(Creative Commons)

This past week I reviewed the photo-blogs of four excellent local photographers.  In the coming week, I hope to publish some more blog reviews, in order to showcase our city's great photographic talent.  Before doing so, however, here is another summary of photo-blogs from the National Capital Region.  (Note: This is the fifth round-up of local photo-blogs that I have posted online – see here for one, two, three and four).

Photo-Blogs

Abigail Doris is the creative mind behind The Merry Pedestrian, an interesting site that contains photos of Ottawa's urban landscape, as well as some really creative artistic shots.  "My goal with this blog is to connect with others through sharing my own experiences, feelings and ideas," Doris writes on her blog bio.  "In return, I hope to learn from the experiences, feelings and ideas of others. It’s all about interaction!"

Another site that documents Ottawa's cityscape is A Heart Full of Love, a photo-blog run by teens Cynthia and Alexa.

Brendan Montgomery is a freelance photojournalist whose work documents, among other things, political demonstrations and landscapes. You can see his extensive work on his photo-blog, which includes links to his tumblr account, Flickr photographs, Facebook page, professional web site, and Twitter account.

Cole Burston is another photojournalist who has an interesting site, in addition to having a professional web site and Twitter account.

Antique Skate is the tumbrl blog of the Antique Stake Shop at 9 Florence, and contains skate-related photos.  For more information check out the shops web site.  For more skateboard-related photographs, Ottawa resident Hugo operates the photo-blogs mechant and Awake.

What I Did Today is based on a personal challenge.  "My New Year's Resolution for 2013 is to take one picture everyday to record what I've done," reads the blog bio. While the blog has not been updated since April 15, (as of today, May 4), it does appear that there were regularly daily posts prior to mid-April, so perhaps daily postings will recommence in the near future.

Another interesting site is Keepsix, which has been documenting graffiti art in Ottawa and around the world since being created in 1997.  If you want to view more of Ottawa's graffiti artists check out Mike's Tumblr and mikegall.ca

David Johnson is a 22-year-old photographer and student.  His intriguing work includes experimental photographs, profile shots and images of Ottawa urban fabric.  In addition to his main site, he has a professional web site, Flickr page, and Twitter account.

Finally, other photo-blogs that I have come across include Turn My Swag On, It is Written, 108 Photographs, and rakerman's Flickr CC photos. (Note: for all of rackerman's photos, including copyright shots see here).

Blog Review: Scott H. Wilson

Photo by Scott H. Wilson
(Copyright)

The Ottawa blogosphere is filled with fantastic photographers.  Earlier this week we started a series that features some of the wonderful photo-blogs from the Natonal Capital Region.  Today we continue our  photographic journey by discussing the impressive work of Scott H. Wilson.

There are moments in life when your surroundings are so beautiful they take your breath away.  Whether it's the explosion of colour in the sky that accompanies a setting sun, the exquisite features of a love one during a romantic moment, or that special reflection of light into a room that somehow makes space shine brighter, we have all experienced those instants when we say, "I wish I had a camera so I could capture this moment."

The brilliance of Scott Wilson's photography is his ability to catch such moments on a regular basis.

"A couple years ago I became absolutely obsessed with photography.  Everywhere I went I was framing photographs in my head," Wilson tells me in an email. "Anytime I saw nice natural light I got excited.  I decided I needed to take it to the next level.  I upgraded my camera and started the blog."

Photo by Scott H. Wilson
(Copyright)

The result of this decision is a tumblr blog that is absolutely gorgeous, and which perfectly captures the natural surroundings of Ottawa.  As a case in point, consider these images taken during a walk in Gatineau Park, which includes the photograph of the waterfall on the left.

My blog does not do justice to Wilson's work.  Re-posting his stunning images only provide a tiny taste of what he can do.  To really get a sense of his amazing work you have to visit his tumblr account. Here are some examples: these winter photos are so vivid you can feel the snow; these photographs of the river during sunset are awesome; the fiery colours of autumn are on full display in pictures like this and this; while the joy of summer can be seen here and here.

"At first it didn't really have a theme," Wilson says about his photo-blog.  "I just tried to get out everyday (even if it was for 5 minutes) and shoot things that caught my eye. 

"Now what I hope I'm doing with the blog is telling a short story. Whether it's just going for a walk with my dog or wandering around the city with my girlfriend.  I hope people can relate to my photographs.  Feel connected to them.  I aim for simplicity, trying to make everyday normal things look beautiful."

As a third-party observer I agree with Wilson's description of his photographs. Like I mentioned at the top of this post, what I love about his photographs is that they capture those magical moments in life when life is beautiful and your mind is in awe of the images that are passing before your eyes.  

Photo by Scott H. Wilson
(Copyright)

As a parting thought, while most of Wilson's photos are in natural settings, he also shoots urban landscapes, such as the photo to the right (original here).  You can see more of his urban images here and here

If you want to see more of his work, go to his professional photography web site, or follow him on his Twitter account.

Blog Review: Location Vanier

Photo of Richelieu Park sugar shack
by Eva Russell (Copyright)

Today we continue our series on great local photographers that I have found on the blogosphere.  In this installment we look at the work of Vanier resident Eva Russell.

Eva Russell is an architect and photographer who came to Ottawa from Nova Scotia in 1999 to study architecture at Carleton University.  Before moving to Vanier two years ago, she tells me, the furthest east that she had travelled in the city was probably St. Laurent Mall.

"I had rented in the Glebe, Old Ottawa South, and the Golden Triangle," she says in an email.  "However, when the time came for my partner Jim and I to get on the property ladder, Vanier was on the table as the one of the only options to own and still be close to downtown."

Photo by Eva Russell
(Copyright)

Russell fell in love with her new community and launched Location: Vanier, a photo-blog that shows Vanier's overlooked spaces, from sugar shacks (see above) to local landmarks (see left) to area business (see below).

"Vanier may have gotten a bad wrap in the past but it is definitely one of the best neighbourhoods in Ottawa," she says. "It is an area that is constantly undergoing change, and even in the past two years I have seen my neighbourhood transform with safer streets and younger families that occupy the parks and splash pads around where I live."

Photo of by Eva Russell
(Copyright)

In addition to her photographs of Vanier, which she takes with an iPhone camera, she also shoots pictures of Ottawa that showcase the city's natural surroundings and urban landscapes.  As an example, see the picture of the Rideau Canal that can be found at the bottom of this post.

While her tumblr account is relatively new – her archives only go back to November of last year – this is a site that I quite enjoy and look forward to following in the coming months and, hopefully, years.

One thing that I particularly like about Russell's photographs is their rustic feel.  On several occasions I felt like I was going through an intimate family photo album from decades ago, which displayed tender moments and good memories.

In my view, this feeling of intimacy allows this photo-blog to present Vanier (and Ottawa) in a positive light.  While some of the photographs do capture some of the gritty parts of Vanier (see here and here), overall this is the photographic equivalent of a love letter to this east end neighbourhood.

Photo of the Rideau Canal by Eva Russell
(Copyright)

"After we had moved in, I began to explore the winding streets north of Montreal Road, many without sidewalks, and started to discover some of Vanier’s hidden gems," says Russell.

"This winter I started walking down Montreal Road to go to the gym ... and was fascinated by the illuminated empty store fronts that lined the street. Armed with only an iPhone camera, I began to document and record framed images that I wanted to capture: overlooked spaces such as the empty Laundromat, the pawn shop and the cash stores that lined my route."

If you want to see more of Russell's work or follow her endeavours you can go to her web site or Twitter account.

Blog Review: Brian Brooks

Calvert, Texas, 2013
Photo by Brian Brooks (Copyright)

For the next couple of weeks, I plan to highlight some of the great photographers that I have found on the local blogosphere.  Today we continue this series by looking at Brian Brooks.  

It is normal human behaviour to categorize things.  Sometimes, however, it is better not to use labels, and to simply allow a person or object to speak for themselves.

The above thought crossed my mind as I scanned through the tumbler site of Ottawa-based photographer Brian Brooks.  His work cannot be pigeonholed in a single category, as his photos cover numerous subjects: e.g. haunting urban landscapes; thoughtful profile pictures; intriguing rock formations; beautiful artistic shots.  The location of his pictures also vary with such places as Texas, Montreal, Ottawa, Mexico and Australia.

Photo by Brian Brooks
(Copyright)

"The goal of my blog and my photography in general is pretty straightforward," Brooks tells me in an email.  "I love making images, share how I see the world with others and experience how other artists view their world.

"I use photography as a way to slow down and take notice of things that usually go unseen or if they are seen, are easily dismissed as we are busy rushing from one place or another, worried about making that meeting or taking care of our daily needs. The idea for me is to stop, reflect and find quality in the everyday objects that surround us or to move in closer and take an object out of its context which leads to abstractions that the viewer can then interpret for themselves what it means to them."

Photo by Brian Brooks
(Copyright)

Brooks' description of his work as slowing down time is something I agree with.  For instance, in his profile pictures, such as of the woman above (click here for original) or the young boy on the right (click here for original), the viewer is left with the feeling of being suspended in time.

This feeling of timeliness is also echoed in many of his artistic shots, such as the photograph at the top of this post (original here).  Is this a front porch?  An interesting storefront?  An image from a museum exhibit?  The vagueness of the picture allows the mind to roam for meaning.

Photo by Brian Brooks
(Copyright)

Another aspect of Brook's work that I enjoy is his ability to take normal objects and transform them into abstract images.  As a case in point, consider the photograph on the left (original here), which is a close up of a pole covered in the remains of old flyers that have been stapled.  What would normally be a boring, perhaps even grimy object, is suddenly transformed into a beautiful and interesting image.

"In general the subjects I photograph may seem odd and I certainly get a lot of stares from passers-by when I am photographing dumpsters, sides of walls or rocks but there is a inherent beauty in these objects that we otherwise would dismiss," says Brooks, who studied photography at East Texas State University.

Photo by Brian Brooks
(Copyright)

Picking up on Brooks' reference to rock walls, I really enjoy his frequent shots of rock patterns, such as the photograph on the right (original here).  For many people boulders and rocks are uninteresting objects. Through Brook's camera lens, however, they are transformed into intriguing and colourful abstract images.

Thanks to the Internet, these excellent photographs can be easily accessed in a way that was not possible 20 or 30 years ago. This is a good thing, for this photo-blog is definitely worth checking out.

"Through social media and specifically tumblr I have been inspired by others photographer's work and have found it satisfying that others appreciate my images as well," says Brooks. "It is a very special age we live in where we can instantly share our images with people the world over and develop relationships where we can discuss our images and art in general."

Blog Review: Street Photography and Other Snaps

Photograph by Chris Vanderwees
(Copyright)

Over the next couple of weeks I will highlight some of the brilliant photographic talent in the city.  To start things off, today I will look at the fantastic photo-blog Street Photography and Other Snaps.

Chris Vanderwees is a graduate student who specialises in street photography. When I came across his tumblr account my jaw dropped; his captivating images capture the full palette of Ottawa street life in a way that I have never seen before. His photos range from the humourous (see above) to the disturbing (see below) to the tender (see the two men embracing a bit further below) and everything in between.

Photo by Chris Vanderwees
(Copyright)

"A couple of years ago, I began to walk down Bank Street from the Glebe, through the Centretown area to Rideau Street, looping back down either Elgin or Bank Street," Vanderwees tells me an email.

"This has been my main walking route for a couple of years as a way to unwind from writing a dissertation through the English Department at Carleton University."

Working on his thesis into the late afternoon or early evening he began going on long walks until sundown.

"As I started doing this, I would talk to people on the street, running into interesting, intelligent, and eccentric people, over and over," he says.  "At some point, I decided that I'd carry a camera with me on my walks as a way to keep track of the people I met and the general happenings I saw on the street. And now I bring a camera with me everywhere I go."

Photo by Chris Vanderwees
(Copyright)

It is a good thing that he decided to chronicle the people he met on the street, as his photographs provide a wonderful window into our city.  For me, his work left me with the feeling of having become better acquainted with my fellow Ottawa residents.  Whether it's drug users, someone getting a tattoo, regular people going for a stroll downtown, dogs on leashes, friends hanging out, smokers puffing away or a person in a wheelchair, his images paint a full picture of all of the city's inhabitants.

What I particularly like about his photos is their non-judgmental tone.  Everyone is given a chance to display who they air through his lens, even if they are completely different from each other.

"At first, I was using a digital camera, but I couldn't afford a very good one," writes Vanderwees in his email.  "It was compact, but had a long zoom lens. It felt very impersonal to take a photograph of someone with it. At some point, I realized what I was doing was street photography, a kind of documentary photography mostly involving candid situations. I figured that this digital camera would never work for my purposes.... So, I sold the digital camera and switched to a 35mm rangefinder, a camera that produces much nicer images by comparison."

Initially, he uploaded scans of his negatives to his blog so family and friends could see his photos.  He then began carrying a book, where he could write down email and address so he could send scans or prints of his copies if the people being photographed wanted copies.

Photo by Chris Vanderwees
(Copyright)

While Vanderwees accepts donations through his site, and also occasionally receives money for developing his photos, his blog is purely a labour of love.

"I don't make any money from what I do with a camera," he says.  "To be honest, I don't really have a goal for this project except to accumulate as many good pictures as possible. I simply enjoy walking, talking to people, and taking photographs on the street. I didn't really expect the blog to gain much of an audience."

Despite his humble approach, his site has been earning a well-deserved reputation, as he now has a little over 1,000 followers.  He also has been contacted by dozens of people about his photos, had web sites asked if they could talk about his work or promote it, and also has sent a few photographs to some magazines.

"I suppose if I collect enough images, I'd be happy to produce a book of photographs with a small publisher," he says.  "Otherwise, my goal is simply to continue walking and taking pictures of people. Now that I've started doing this, it's just something I can't imagine not doing anymore. It's a bit of a compulsion, I guess."

Ottawa Photographers: Take Four

Photo by San Diego Shooter courtesy of Flickr
(Creative Commons)

Ottawa is filled with  wonderful photographers who showcase their excellent work online.  As of today, I have more than 90 photo-blogs on the blogroll to the right, and thanks to the re-blogging work of Ottawhatwhat?! am discovering several more on a regular basis.  My aim is to highlight as many of these sites as possible, either by mentioning them in round-up posts like this one, or by exploring them in greater detail in separate blog reviews.

I have already published three round-up posts on photo-blogs from the National Capital Region (see one, two and three), as well as writing blog reviews on four different photo-blogs (see here, here, here and here).  My aim is to continue highlighting local photographers in the coming weeks and months, in order to showcase the fantastic photographic talent in our city.  So without further ado, here are some additional photographers that you should check out.

Photo-Blogs

One local artist that I am really excited about is Chris Vanderwees, a street photographer and graduate student living in Ottawa.  "Most of my photographs are impromptu portraits or candid scenes," he writes on his photo-blog bio.  "I primarily work with antique twin lens reflex cameras, shooting medium format, black and white film.  I also carry a rangefinder with me wherever I go."  For me, his primarily black-and-white photos of the street do a fantastic job in capturing the wide range of people who live in our city.

For her part, architect and photographer Eva Russell takes beautiful pictures of Ottawa that showcase the city's natural surroundings and urban landscapes.  In her tumblr photo-blog, she displays overlooked spaces in her Vanier neighbourhood, which range from maple syrup farms to music shows to interesting urban shots, as well as images of Ottawa.  If you want to see more of her work go to her web site or follow her on Twitter.

Another photographer who highlights Ottawa urban-greenspace mix is Lizabeth Bennett.  Her impressive tumblr photo-blog bangbang contains images of such places as Sparks Street, the Rideau River and peaceful urban winter scenes.

If you want to see more photos of Ottawa's East end, then Vanier in the Springtime is worth checking out. Another interesting site is It's a Celebration Bitches!, which contains thought-provoking images of the city, profile shots of people and "artsy" photographs.

Ottawa-based Brian Brooks, meanwhile, has taken some very interesting photographs from such places as Texas, Montreal and Ottawa.  His images include urban landscapes, profile pictures and shots of intriguing rock formations.  His tumblr account showcases most of his work, although some images can be found in a WordPress account, although the latter seems to be dormant at the moment.

Scott H Wilson is another photographer with a great tumblr photo-blog (see here for his Twitter account).  His brilliant photos showcase the natural splendour in Ottawa, such as these great shots, as well as interesting images from the city and daily life.

Other photo-blogs that I have come across and found interesting include Conundrum, tedhed, Hungering Eye and Miao Design.

There are many other photographers that I would like to showcase in the near future, but for now I will stop here, as making this list any longer could become a bit overwhelming.

Blog Review: National Capital Rock

Photo of The Yips by Andrew Carver (copyright)
Show at Mugshots, March 22, 2013

Local photographer Andrew Carver has been documenting Ottawa's music scene for years.  Since starting his blog National Capital Rock in 2005, he has published more than 3,000 posts on his blogspot site.  When I asked Carver how many photos he has posted online, he estimated that about 15,000 photographs have appeared on his blog, given that each post contains multiple photos.  Whether it's images of local bands, or out-of-town groups playing in Ottawa, he has amassed a large and impressive collection of images that chronicle the city's musical history.

Photo of Roberta Bondar by
Andrew Carver (copyright)
Show at Mugshots, August 30, 2012

While his site can be classified as a photo-blog, it is also an indispensable source of local music news, as it highlights many, if not most, of the rock shows that take place in town.  For anyone who is interested in learning about local bands and seeing live music in the city, this site is an essential fountain of information.  The long list of labels and bands that can be found on this blog is by itself a musical encyclopaedia.  In my view, this site is one of the most important music-related blogs in Ottawa.

From a photographic perspective, Carver’s photos capture the raw energy of a live concert, and transport the viewer into the club, bar, pub or house party where the concert is occurring.  Whenever I log onto his site, it is easy for me to imagine being up on stage with the musicians, or dancing the night away in a festive crowd. 

In addition to his blogspot blog, he displays his photographs on Flickr and a Tumblr account.  He is also on Twitter.  If you are a music fan, I highly encourage you to view his prolific work.

Blog Review: TwoShot

Photo by Kym Shumsky (Sossusvlei, Namibia)

The following article first appeared on Apartment 613 on March 27.

Local photographer Kym Shumsky has a talent for making strangers feel comfortable. In her photo-blog Le Mien, she photographed 100 strangers over a 21-month period, culminating in an exhibit and book that raised $2,000 for Operation Rainbow Canada.

She is now working on a new artistic endeavour called TwoShot, a photo-blog that showcases one-off collaborations between her and a guest photographer. While Shumsky will ultimately select the final photos for each shoot, the images will be split roughly 50-50 between her work and those of her collaborating partner.

“A little while ago, I photographed 100 strangers because I wanted to get better at taking photos,” she writes on TwoShot. “That first project was about gaining perspective. This one is about sharing it.”

In a phone interview with Apartment 613, Shumsky says that her work on Le Mien taught her a lot about taking pictures. However, because she was the only one behind the camera lens, each photo contained only her perspective. ”We have a presence even if we are not in the frame,” she says. Enter TwoShot, which is a conscious attempt to expand her artistic horizons.

So far the project has resulted in three collaborations. The first contains photos that she took with her husband Darcy Cornu, during a trip around the world a few years back. “I had to give examples to get other photographers,” says Shumsky, while describing the series of gorgeous images, such as the photo from Namibia above and Kashmir, India below.

Photo by Kym Shumsky (Kashmir, India - Kingdom of Leh) 

The second collaboration is comprised of photographs from rural Saskatchewan that she jointly took with her friend Winter Fedyk while on holiday. The images are beautiful shots of horses and prairie landscapes, which capture the feeling of big sky country.

Photo by Winter Fedyk - Horses, La Reata
(Kyle, Saskatchewan) (copyright)

Observing these impressive photographs, like the one on the right, the observer can feel as if they are underneath a massive sky, running through pristine fields. Behind the camera lens, however, it is always necessary to remember the collaborative aspect of the project.

“When you start dealing with people’s passion, you have to have a lot of respect, a lot of patience,” says Shumsky, a native of Winnipeg but now long-term resident of Ottawa. “What I ask from the photographers is that they give me their best work.”

This push for excellent work, combined with being exposed to a multitude of styles, is forcing Shumsky to experiment with new techniques.  “I have one (photographer) in the queue who only shoots black and white, and I never shoot black and white,” she tells me. “I am not sure how to present it.”

Photo by Debra Cowie
(Art Is In Bakery) (copyright)

She is also playing with the opportunity to work in a wide range of locations. For instance, the third collaboration consists of photos of Art Is In Bakery at 250 City Centre Avenue #112. These images, taken alongside Ottawa-based photographer Debra Cowie, are completely different from the first two.

Looking forward, Shumsky says that her future shoots will be constrained by the following parameters: “The lighting is the same, the location is the same, the people are the same.”

While the project is still evolving, she can envision eventually putting on another exhibit for charity, which combines her work and those of all the collaborating photographers.

If you are a photographer who would like to participate in this project you can email Kym Shumsky at kimusan@relishing.ca.

¡Mil gracias David!

Photo by David Scrimshaw
(Creative Commons)

David Scrimshaw is a great guy and all around cool lawyer.  In case you missed it, I recently reviewed his blog, which is a fun read and is worth checking out.  David is also a good photographer, and has kindly offered to share his images on this site. In the coming weeks, I hope to create a slideshow of photos of Ottawa and the surrounding areas that have been taken by different photographers, and I plan to include some of David's images in this collection.  In the meantime, look out for some of his photos in future posts.

Ottawa Photographers: Take Three

Photo by epSos.de courtesy of Flickr
(Creative Commons)

In two previous posts I have highlighted some of the great photographic talent in Ottawa (see here and here).  In this post, I will add to the growing blogroll of photographers in the National Capital Region.

David Forcier's photo-blog contains many raw images, mostly in black and white, and often related to music.   Candis Sabean, in contrast, offers up a completely different camera palette, with colourful images of wildlife, landscapes and works of art.

If you are interested in looking at photographs of world leaders, athletes, politicians and other people in the news, Brair Gable's photo-blog contains photos of, among other people, Prime Minister Harper, Queen Elizabeth II, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Ottawa Senators players in action.

For those looking to hire a photographer for new born, baby, children and/or family pictures, there is Kim Richard. The photo-blog Photo cafe has some gorgeous shots of the Ottawa area, while Metro Perspectives has images from various cities in Canada and the United States, including Canada's capital.

Jeremy Shane Reid writes on his blog that he works at Irene’s Pub and studied photography and graphic design at  Algonquin College.  His online portfolio One Creative Source contains some beautiful images that are at times poignant, intriguing, thoughtful and haunting.

Photographer Mario Cerroni likes to discuss and write about what he sees in his photographs. "I update this blog with a new photo and some writing - usually a poem - as often as I can," he says on his site PhotoDiction.  The images here are truly remarkable, and I look forward to viewing more of his work.

While updated sporadically, Photography by Ramin is worth a look, as is Dan Neutel's site, which contains a breathtaking 360 panoramic view of Ottawa.

Finally, photographer Kimusan manages Relishing, and interesting site that builds on her work with Twoshot.ca and Le Mien.  Regarding the last photo-blog, followers of Ottawa's photographic scene will recall this project undertaken in 2010-11 when Kimusan photographed 100 strangers.

In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to delving deeper into these and previously mentioned sites, as I highlight the truly impressive photographic talent in the city.

Update (March 26): Today I came across Manifeisty, a great photo-blog by Debra Cowie.

Update (March 30): Found another local photo-blog; click on Dwayne Brown.

Update (April 4):  I have found some other photos-blogs, this time by Mike Steinhauer, Capital Oh and Carmelephant.  At the rate that I am coming across new photographers, I may have to do a fourth-post on photo-blogs.

Blog Review: First Gate Dreamer

Photo by Ron St. Louis (Creative Commons)
www.firstgatedreamer.com

I first came across the photo-blog First Gate Dreamer while working on a round-up of local photographers.  From the moment I looked at these beautiful images, I knew this was one blog that I wanted to promote.

"The photos on this site are not always posted for their aesthetic appeal but for the stories and the feelings behind them and what they mean to me," writes photographer Ron St. Louis on his site. "I chose this name to honour the lost art of DREAMING.  More specifically, Lucid Dreaming as practiced by the ancient Toltecs."

Photo by Ron St. Louis (Creative Commons)
www.firstgatedreamer.com

There are several steps to master lucid dreaming, explains St. Louis.  "The first step or 'gate' to lucid dreaming is to bridge your everyday consciousness into your dreams by attempting to orient yourself in your dream and to become aware that you are in fact dreaming.  One technique is to try to look at your hands while dreaming."

The photos on this blog cover a wide range of themes.  Some of the images have a spiritual feel to them, such as this one and this one, both of which were taken in India.  Then there is this fabulous photo of a boat, which I originally wanted to use for this review, but decided against it after determining that it is much better to view the original on St. Louis' photo-blog.

Photo by Ron St. Louis
(Creative Commons)
www.firstgatedreamer.com

Some of my favourite photos are a series of poignant black-and-white images taken in Ottawa during a snowstorm, such as the shot of the statute of Terry Fox on the right (see the original here).  There is an expression in Portuguese called bella tristeza, or beautiful sadness, that came to mind as I saw these photographs of downtown Ottawa in the middle of winter. There is this wonderful image of a stairwell with icicles, an intriguing shot of a chip wagon covered in snow, and a postcard perfect photograph of a lamppost.

St. Louis' skill extends to landscapes shots, creative photos like this distorted image of a board game, and surreal images like this of what looks like a huge flame of fire.  While the photo-blogs' archives go back to 2006, postings have been sporadic lately.  "I have been far too busy to post much this last year let alone pick up my camera," Ron tells me in an email. "Hoping that changes soon."  I second that motion, as I really enjoy his work.

New photo exhibit observes the cosmos through an artistic lense

Photy by Sanjeev Sivarulrasa (copyright)
Milky Way, Lake Superior, 2011

In their calendar of local events Artengine notes that local photography Sanjeev Sivarulrasa has opened his new exhibit Night Light, which is taking place at the Karsh-Masson Gallery at 136 St. Patrick Street and runs until May 5.  The exhibit provides a unique perspective on the cosmos, which is a domain normally controlled by scientists.

“Scientists are the gatekeepers of the sky,” Sivarulrasa told me in a recent phone interview. “(But science) doesn’t tell us much about how we feel about the night sky.”  I interviewed him for a story on his show that I wrote for Apartment 613.

The universe, says Sivarulrasa, cannot be left solely to scientists.  While fully embracing the work of astronomers and astrophysicists, he notes that artists provide a different perspective on the cosmos, and that this fresh insight needs to be explored.

Ottawa is full of wonderful photographers, many of whom I hope to highlight on this blog.  While Sivarulrasa does not have a photo-blog, I wanted to mention his new exhibit as his work is very good.  If you want to know more about his work, you can attend a talk this coming Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m. at the Karsh-Masson Gallery.  The free talk will elaborate on his photographic technique of observing and imaging the night sky, while also comparing the scientific method of understanding the world with the artistic perspective.

Blog Review: Musician on Skis

Photo by Jo-Ann Holden (copyright)

Ottawa is full of talented photographers.  Since starting to chronicle the local blogosphere earlier this year, I have viewed more than 50 photo-blogs from the National Capital Region, as well as being aware of several others that I plan to visit in the near future.  In the coming weeks and months, I will highlight some of the sites that have really impressed me to help showcase the great talent in the city.

Musician on Skis

The first photo-blog that I would like to talk about is Musician on Skis, which was created by Jo-Ann Holden, a classical pianist.  In an email she tells me that she teaches piano, as well as performing with singers and instrumentalists for recitals, auditions and competitions.  While I have not seen her perform (perhaps that will be the subject of a future music-related post!) I have spent time on her blog,  which contains many gorgeous photographs, taken primarily in Gatineau Park.

Her photos can be classified into three categories: outdoor activities, wildlife and landscapes.  Her sports-related shots capture the movement of athletes in a very natural way, which is not easy to do, as the quick movement of a sporting event is a challenging thing to photograph.

"Years ago I did buy a better camera for the race photos as I was getting mostly shots of air and boots," Jo-Ann writes in an email. "I detest start and finish lines ... and try to find exciting vantage points on the race course.  I take far too many photos and throw out most of them.  It's a labour of love!"

Photo by Jo-Ann Holden
(copyright)

The other category of photographs that she takes is of wildlife, such as the great shot of the owl to your left. (You can see the original shot here). While I highly encourage you to visit her site in order to see the full range of her skill, here are some links to a few photos that I find particularly beautiful: cardinal, squirrel, goldfinch and a deer.

"I wish I were better at it," writes Jo-Ann in her email. "It's a really lucky day to see wildlife. I'm always on the lookout, though, and it does help to go out without without a gaggle of noisy friends."  From my perspective, I think she is being very modest, as I consider her wildlife photos to be excellent.

Photo by Jo-Ann holden (copyright)

The finally category of photographs deal with landscapes.  I particularly loved the photograph on the right, which to me looks like a painting.  I had to shrink this photo in order to make it fit in this review, so its full impact cannot be seen here.  That is why I recommend that you link to the original shot in order to see the photo in its proper splendour.

"Scenery?" writes Jo-Ann in her email, as she contemplates what attracts her to a particular landscape. "I also tend to stick close to home, rarely travel, and visit my favorite haunts over and over, in all types of weather.  I hate midday and often prefer 'bad' weather to perfect sunny days."

What intrigues me about her scenery shots is how they look like works of art.  This shot, for instance, has the feeling of an impressionist painting, while photographs like this are just stunning.  In short, this is an excellent photo-blog that is well worth the visit.

Thanks and Three Cheers for Jared

Photo by Jared Davidson
(Creative Commons)

Jared is one talented guy.  Not only is he an editor for Apartment 613, he is also the creative force behind Jam Jar, a web site dedicated to promoting the literary work of Ottawa residents.  In addition, he is a contributing editor for freeactivities.ca, a site dedicated to promoting free events in Ottawa and several other Canadian cities.  Besides his exceptional writing skills – the boy can really write – he takes photographs.  Jared has kindly agreed to shares his photographic work with this blog, so grazie mille!

Special Shout-Out to Frederic

Photo by Frederic Sune
(Rideau Canal - Copyright)

Frederic is a former professional photographer who also worked as a photojournalist for five years.  He is currently the lead managing editor for freeactivities.ca, a web site dedicated to highlighting free events in Ottawa and several other Canadian cities, as well as the CEO of itinmind.ca, an Ottawa-based company that provides small and medium-sized businesses access to trained IT professional.  Frederic is also a Wordpress consultant.  While he no longer makes his living working behind the lens, he still loves photography and has kindly agreed to share his great work.  So thank you Frederic, it's an honour to be able to use your photos.

Ottawa Photographers: Take Two

Photo by Robert Cooke Imaging courtesy of Flickr
(Creative Commons)

Last week I posted a column on local photographers that I originally wrote for Apartment 613.  Since then, I  have added numerous other photo-blogs to the blogroll.

GraphicPathic contains impressive shots of a wide range of subjects, from nature and intriguing urban landscapes, to animals and flowers.  Ottawa Velo Vogue focuses on cycling and fashion, while Musician on Skis, which I mentioned in a previous post, chronicles outdoor life especially in Gatineau Park.

Jeff, who self-describes as a pho­tog­ra­pher, part writer, part filmmaker but all lover, displays his work on his photo-blog equivocality.  One site that I was impressed with is First Gate Dreamer, while Smallaroid provides great images taken from an iPod camera.  For his part, Garry Black's photo-blog shines a lens on travel, landscapes and people,

Charles Earl has some beautiful photographs on his personal site, as well as operating the following photo-blogs: through the broken viewfinder which contains a photo a day; studio infrared that showcases infrared photographs; time zero that has Polaroid shots; and Toy Cameras that has playful, if not slightly surreal, photos.  Other photo-blogs include Wakefield Noir, Relishing and Refract.

If you are looking for a photographer for weddings, children or lifestyle, there is Iaroslava Petrenko who has a blogspot site in addition to a professional web site.  Another local photographer is John W. MacDonald who shots events, portraits and weddings.  Justin Van Leeuwen, meanwhile, works in the areas of commercial, corporate and Fundraising Events, family, interiors and portraits.

Tour de bloggosphere: Photo-blogs and photographers

Photo courtesy of Paul Wisenberg

The following post first appeared on Apartment 613 on January February 9.

Greetings fellow blogophiles as we take another look at the impressive array of local bloggers. This week we focus on the visual arts, as we surf the numerous photo-blogs in our city.

One excellent site is Ottawa Seen 365 Ways in 365 Days, where amateur photographer Christophe Ledent posts a different photo of the national capital region each day. (See Local Tourist Ottawa for more details on Christophe’s work). Another impressive blog is Singing Moon, which contains gorgeous snapshots of our region.

If you enjoy live bands, Ottawa-based photographer and music lover Ming runs PhotogMusic, which has portraits of numerous musicians. Then there is Alexandre Laquerre’s Ottawa Past & Present that compares present-day images with past photos of the same locations.

Other photographers with photo-blogs include Tony Fouhse, Harry Nowell, Rob Huntley and Danielle Donders. The Camera Club of Ottawa also has a blog.

If you are looking to hire a photographer, then you can pick from a huge selection of local talent. While the following list of photo-blogs is by no means exhaustive, it will help you start your search for photographers in the following areas:

* Note: Some photographers specialize in more than one category

Weddings: Laura Kelly, Union Eleven, Sam and Mary, Anne-Marie Bouchard, Melissa Johnston, Bella Stella, Melissa Kew

Family History: Mike Dickson

Newborns, Toddlers, Children: Jennifer Bailey, Elizabeth Fulton

Pets: Elizabeth and Jane

Lifestyle and Food: Christian Lee

Commercial: Couvrette

Anna Jones can take shots for a wide range of clients (e.g. commercial, newborns, boudoir, engagement), as does Lisa Mounteer, who can take photos ranging from fitness to engagements to newborns. Danielle Lynn’s blog, meanwhile, contains photographs in such categories as teens, food and fine art.

The good folks at Byfield Pitman, Justin Van Leuween and Younes Bounhar are some of the most talented photographers in the city. So are younger guys Jamie Kronick and Rémi Thériault.

Have a favourite local photographer whose site is not listed above? Want to recommend a blog by a local blogger in English, French and/or another language that we have not noted? Let us know in the comments below.